“With Málaga having just equalised, Messi calmly sends the keeper the wrong way from the spot to restore Barça’s lead and set up yet another hat-trick night, pushing him to a staggering 71 goals for the season and 268 in his career.”
Messi’s 20th career hat-trick arrives in La Liga against Málaga, turning a supposedly rare feat into a routine weapon as he converts twice from the spot and still finds time for a third in open play.
In a frantic El Clásico at 3–3, Messi calmly pauses on the spot, waits for López to commit, then rolls the late penalty back across him to complete his hat-trick and restore Barça’s lead, sealing La Liga goal number 236 and career strike 384 under maximum pressure.
In a frantic El Clásico with Barcelona trailing 3–2 at the Bernabéu, Messi calmly sends Diego López the wrong way from the spot to drag his team level and move closer to a historic hat-trick and his 235th La Liga goal.
Retaking the lead from the spot at 1–1 against Osasuna, Messi calmly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way under no margin for error, a routine-looking penalty that in fact seals his 200th La Liga goal and underlines a four-goal masterclass.
With Barcelona wobbling after surrendering their early lead, Messi calmly sends the keeper the wrong way from the spot to restore control against Valencia, the just-before-half-time strike doubling as his 550th career goal.